Did anyone read "The Last Arkham"?

[Mutate]

I didn't get it. Why did Batman let himself be put there like that? How he could be sure they would let him keep his mask on?

[karaokefanboy]

The story has a few holes, but it's still one of my favorites. Alan Grant/Norm Breyfogle are one of the most underrated Batman creative teams there ever was. They were working on the book when two or three of the Batman movies came out, and they maintained the character's integrity in the face of all of that hype.

Didn't someone try to take off Batman's mask in that story? Then Doc Arkham said no, leave it on, he'll take it off for me HIMSELF someday soon? Perhaps, since Batman knew the other villains in Arkham were still in costume, that he wouldn't have anything to worry about. Or he studied Arkham's methods prior to "committing" himself. Or he applied make-up under his cowl to disguise his indentity, as he's done in the past, just in case.

[mattx110]

didn't B:TAS do an adaption of this? i'm pretty sure they did. i remember liking it if it exists :-)

[Mutate]

Didn't someone try to take off Batman's mask in that story? Then Doc Arkham said no, leave it on, he'll take it off for me HIMSELF someday soon? Perhaps, since Batman knew the other villains in Arkham were still in costume, that he wouldn't have anything to worry about. Or he studied Arkham's methods prior to "committing" himself. Or he applied make-up under his cowl to disguise his indentity, as he's done in the past, just in case.

Those are good reasons, thanks

[Paul Dee]

Perhaps, since Batman knew the other villains in Arkham were still in costume, that he wouldn't have anything to worry about. .

But the real identities of those villains are usually well-known aren't they? So it wouldn't matter - nothing would be more tempting than un-masking Batman to the world in a way that un-masking your typical villain wouldn't.. The make-up theory is probably the best one I think, but it might have been nice if Alan Grant had alluded top this himself in the story to side-step that particular plot hole; it's not our job to fill in the gaps like that after all. Nevertheless, it is a great story. I wish Alan Grant would return to write some Batman books at some point in the future, perhaps after Morrisson and Dini are finished. Incidentally, was this the first appearance of Zsaz?

[Mutate]

Yeah, it says in the TPB introduction that it was his debut story.

[Paul Dee]

Oh yes! I have that (a signed copy no less after meeting Mr Grant the other month at a comic book fair) and completely forgot about that. It's a great introduction too, I love it when writers directly respond to fan criticism.

[DonC]

Didn't someone try to take off Batman's mask in that story? Then Doc Arkham said no, leave it on, he'll take it off for me HIMSELF someday soon?

I haven't read that story since it was new, but, yeah, I seem to recall that scene. Good memory.

[Chad]

But the real identities of those villains are usually well-known aren't they? So it wouldn't matter - nothing would be more tempting than un-masking Batman to the world in a way that un-masking your typical villain wouldn't.. The make-up theory is probably the best one I think, but it might have been nice if Alan Grant had alluded top this himself in the story to side-step that particular plot hole

On at least two later occasions Grant does address the measures Batman takes to safeguard his identity.

In Shadow of the Bat 13 he takes the precaution of creating a false face underneath his mask even though it turns out that the situation didn't call for it, and in issue 66 he's shown to have done the same when unmasked by the police.

Although these two instances have to be applied retroactively to address The Last Arkham, it seems pretty clear that Grant could have easily explained this matter if he wanted to. Instead, he probably just thought that once the readers learned that it was Batman who put himself in this spot, they would also realise that Batman would have taken steps towards protecting his identity.

[Paul Dee]

On at least two later occasions Grant does address the measures Batman takes to safeguard his identity.

In Shadow of the Bat 13 he takes the precaution of creating a false face underneath his mask even though it turns out that the situation didn't call for it, and in issue 66 he's shown to have done the same when unmasked by the police.

Although these two instances have to be applied retroactively to address The Last Arkham, it seems pretty clear that Grant could have easily explained this matter if he wanted to. Instead, he probably just thought that once the readers learned that it was Batman who put himself in this spot, they would also realise that Batman would have taken steps towards protecting his identity.

Ah thanks for that. I'll really have to get more of the early Shadow of the Bat issues as I just love the Grant/Breyfogle stories. Are there any particular issues that could be recommended (they could also be from the run on the Batman title as I don't have them all)?

[niall mc cann]

Sorry to dredge up such an old thread, but i just came across it now and wanted to say that i love The Last Arkham.

One of my fave Batman stories, i wish it was mentioned more often in "essential batman stories" lists.

I mean, it's not fundamental to Batman; there's no big revelations or definitive moments for the character, but as a batman-doing-what-he-does-best type story, it's great. Love it.

(and i also have vague memories of a batman animated episode that, if not a faithful adaptation, certainly used elements of TLA.)